My car is overheating. Before I just start replacing parts I was wondering if anyone could give me a good place to start. My car starts rough but smooths out after about 1 minute. I noticed that my floorboards were wet. I have a little heat for a second then no heat come from heater. The car is not consuming coolant. It runs for about 15 minutes then the temperature skyrockets, the fan comes on and the resevior boils over. The radiator and lower radiator hose remain cool. I replaced the thermostat. What does it sound like? A water pump, heater core, head gasket, air lock? Please let me know if you have had similar experience. Thanks!
2007-12-01 08:39:24 · 7 answers · asked by Jordan-CMU 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First, you may have several problems causing the same effect. Grand Am's are notorious for the seal around the windshield leaking into the cabin, so a leaking heater core may not be your main problem...especially if there is no distinct coolant odour in your car. Pop your hood and start your car. You'll see a black steel tube running parallel to your rad with a little knob/valve setup on the left side of it sitting on top, but still on the front of the engine. Loosen it up a little with a pair of plyers. Let it spit for a minute. If steam starts coming out, then you may have a head gasket issue as you have air pockets forming in your cooling system, otherwise just tighten it back up. Also check the color of your coolant. If it is contaminated with oil, it is definately a head gasket issue.
Remember your coolant is circulated through the entire engine and trans-systems. Do the hoses that are cold still have pressure in them? If the hoses are pressurizing than it is not your water pump. I hope that this helps a bit.
2007-12-04 07:46:57 · answer #1 · answered by Quigi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is the New Thermostat in "Backwards" (Easy to Do, Happens to the best of us!)? Are the Radiator & Heater Hoses Good (Not Cracked or Overly Soft "Coming Apart Inside!")?
Check; With the Engine Cool Remove the radiator Cap, Is there Rust (Replace Cap) or Foam (Cracked Transmission Cooler Lines in Radiator (Replace Radiator) on the Underside of the Cap? Cap still off Start Engine, After a short time do you Smell Exhaust from the Radiator (Head Gasket Leaking, Replace!)? Do you Notice Coolant Circulation? If Warmed either Thermostat is Backward or Water Pump is Bad!
Wet Floor(s); Sweet Smell and Sticky? (Anti-Freeze) Replace or Repair Leaking Heater Core!
2007-12-01 11:09:26 · answer #2 · answered by sidecar0 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound like thermostat if your resovoir boils over, also check your radiator cap, if it's bad it'll do the same thing. However your wet floorboard indicates a leaking heater core. Also did you make sure the new thermostat is in the correct direction?
2007-12-01 08:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by Barcadcadacada 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try a professional engine flush. The heater core could be clogged. Also look to see that the hoses aren't collapsing. I have even seen cars overheat from a bad radiator cap.
2007-12-01 08:41:48 · answer #4 · answered by Larry M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a 87 grand am & my car was over heating I put a bottle of stop leak in the radiator & it's been fine for months now. Try that first before spending mucho bucks.
2007-12-01 08:50:52 · answer #5 · answered by mary k 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Make sure that there aren"t blowed fuses in fuse box and that all relays are functioning properly.
2007-12-01 09:27:13 · answer #6 · answered by Ultraheroe 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like trapped air in the cooling system....
2007-12-01 08:58:14 · answer #7 · answered by John St.Louis 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋